LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
Not everyone with a disability needs assistance, and of those who do, most have sufficient support to continue living at home. In 2009, the majority of people with disabilities lived in private dwellings (94%). This proportion was comprised of 74% of people living with other people and 20% living alone.

The remainder of people with disabilities (6%) lived in non-private dwellings such as boarding houses and hostels, with nearly two-thirds of these (4%) living in cared accommodation (Graph 55).

Almost half (45%) of the people living in other non-private dwellings (e.g. boarding houses and hotels) have a disability, more than twice the prevalence of people living in private dwellings (18%).

Living arrangements varied according to disability status. Those with profound core activity limitations have a lower incidence of living alone (14%) than other people with disabilities, but a higher incidence than people without disabilities (7%) (Graph 56).

People with disabilities were more likely to own their own home outright (24%) or be renting a dwelling from a state or territory housing authority (7%) than people without disabilities (16% and 1% respectively). The high rate of people with disabilities owning their homes outright will be associated with the increasing prevalence of disability with age. The higher rates of public housing tenancy among people with disabilities will be due to lower incomes (Graph 57).

There are also differences in the housing tenures of people with disabilities depending on the severity of their disability. People with profound core activity limitations were more likely to report living rent free (18%) or being a boarder (12%), which is twice the incidence of these tenure arrangements reported by other groups.